The odds looked bleak for the 29 students in the Certificate of Wool Technology, level four, course when Telford training institute was put into liquidation along with Taratahi.
Boniface’s post has ended but now it looks like Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) might be able to rescue some of the agriculture courses provided by Telford and Taratahi.
He hopes the SIT plan will be approved quickly by the Government.
“I’ve got 29 very good students who will be very good value to the industry in the various jobs they’re doing and they were due to start the second year of their course on February 18.
“I’m hoping now that if it does not start on time it will start at some point and if the course needs to go into 2020 to be finished then that is by-the-by.”
Boniface said his students were gutted by the ending of the Taratahi model and the uncertainty it created but he had spoken to SIT and been able to give them some confidence their course will not be lost.
His post was suspended from January 11 but after 54 years in the industry “I’m one of those people who’s always optimistic”, he said.
The group completed the first two stages of the level-four course last year and has two stages to do this year to get the full certificate.
Boniface is based at Massey in Manawatu and the course is taught on a distant learning basis with a one-week block course for South Island students in Christchurch in May and for North Island students in Napier in August.
“This course is an integral part of the industry and must be kept going at all costs,” he said.
The 29 students are all working in the industry – wool classing, scours, stores and merchants – and the programme is designed to extend their knowledge and practical skills, including sheep farming systems.
A new class had been expected to start this year as well but won’t go ahead because of the Telford/Taratahi situation, Boniface said.
Gut he hopes SIT will pick that up as well at some point if it completes the rescue plan.
